Living it up in the Madhouse

Being the "Chief Inmate" of the Madhouse is a full-time job. I share my duties with a giant of a man, whom I refer to simply as "The Warden." He is like no one else. We've been running the Madhouse for more than 20 years and are glad to say that we are living to tell about it. The Madhouse has reached capacity with seven fellow/junior inmates and our equally insane dog Maggie. The Madhouse is my location to, as the Warden would say, "Spill [my] guts" to any and all who will read. So find yourself a corner in one of the padded rooms, and enjoy some time with us. You never know what you might find.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Darn! I was sleeping so good. T came in and tripped in the dark and hit his chin on something, which started him crying. We got him up on the bed, and I kissed it better. Amazing what a panacea one little kiss is. Of course, it immediately stopped hurting him. MIRACLE! He stole one of my pillows almost immediately and then the kicking started in. Both Z and I, just as we were getting off to sleep, were getting pelted by little two-year-old legs in footy pajamas (which seemed to soften the blows a little bit). The house was hot, even with our window open. I finally closed the window and went down to turn on the A/C. I asked T if he wanted to change out of the hot jammies, but he refused. The pelting continued until I'd had enough. Z finally took him to his own bed, but by then it was too late. I was wide awake; I had reached the point of no return.

So, here I lay. Wide awake. Worrying about my 15-year-old daughter up on Mount Hood. I miss her so much when she's gone. Most especially these past two nights as there's been so much rain. I can't imagine how cold and wet she must be. They were limited to a 35 pound backpack, which really meant the bare necessities. She didn't even have an extra pair of shoes. Those were eliminated as we pared down after the first weighing. At this point, I'm just hoping she's okay. We'll see this afternoon. I'm hoping she comes home with some great stories to tell and that her experiences there will become some great memories. She was with friends, so that should count for something.

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comments:

Julie I wondered how the girls were doing on Friday...not so bad for Thursday...I am sure she is just fine...as you know they have some great leaders with them...but as a Mom it's easy to be worried. Take a deep breath..she'll be home soon :)

I've been wondering the same exact thing looking at all this rain. Makenzie's pack was 40 lbs so we had to take stuff out, one of which was her tarp! She has the rain fly for the top but nothing underneath the tent. Which means if the ground got really wet they were laying in water. No extra shoes for Makenzie either. She has food though and hot chocolate and she is with friends and capable leaders. I know they are fine it's just a matter of "will she come home happy?" I sure hope so.

Madhouse Visitors

The Weather at the Madhouse

There are this many people walking the halls:

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” ~ Dr. Seuss

In this regard, my counsel to members would be to relax, lighten up, mellow out, and not get so huffy. While the gospel is sacred and serious, sometimes we take ourselves a little too seriously. A sense of humor, especially about ourselves, is an attribute worthy of development (Glenn L. Pace, “Follow the Prophet,” Ensign, May 1989, 25).

I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the grace of God, I will do.

"Remember that ofttimes the wisdom of God appears as foolishness to men, but the greatest single lesson we can learn in mortality is that when God speaks and a man obeys, that man will always be right." --Thomas S. Monson